Florida Republican Party Wages War on Liberty Caucus

For Immediate Release: September 8, 2009
Contacts: Dave Nalle, National Chair: (512) 656-8011 or chairman [at] rlc.org
Frank Zilaitis, Florida Board: (321) 480-7597 or frank [at] zilaitis.com

Florida Republican Party Wages War on Liberty Caucus: ‘Party Purge’ Expels Caucus Chair and Members from RPOF Positions
NO ROOM FOR DISSENT IN FLORIDA REPUBLICAN PARTY

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Last Friday, the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) Grievance Committee notified Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida Chairman Will G. Pitts of Jacksonville and four other Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) members that they have been removed from positions within the RPOF or prohibited from serving in any official RPOF capacity for a period of no less than two years.

“This is just the latest action in the ongoing ‘Party Purge’,” said grassroots organizer Doug Guetzloe of Orange County, who was banned from participating in party activities until after August 31, 2013. According to Guetzloe, “The reasons for this ‘Party Purge’ are that we have collectively and individually called for a complete audit of the Republican Party of Florida finances, advocated for candidates not favored by party leaders, and because we are members of the Republican Liberty Caucus.”

The grievances against Florida RLC Chairman Will Pitts include that he attended a rally hosted by Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty organization, wore a “Ron Paul” button on his lapel after Florida’s Republican primary, attended an “End the Fed” (Federal Reserve Bank) Rally in Jacksonville, and wrote words “harmful to the Republican Party”.

Those words included negative comments about RPOF Chairman Jim Greer, Florida Governor Charlie Crist (Mr. Pitts asserted that they are “pathetic and embarrassing”), Senator John McCain, and President George W. Bush. Mr. Pitts stands by the accuracy of his comments and does not apologize for supporting Republican Liberty Caucus Advisory Board member Ron Paul (R-TX).

“Greer and his friends have no right to throw out members who were directly elected by the Republicans at grassroots precincts,” asserted national Republican Liberty Caucus Chairman Dave Nalle of Texas. “Speaking out for individual liberty, the Constitution, and the rule of law is not something which Republicans should be penalized for. The Party has a tradition of diversity, tolerance, and support for freedom of speech and the right of dissent,” he said.

In addition to penalizing Pitts, the RPOF also expelled lifelong Republican and RLC activist Nick Egoroff of Orlando for a period of four years. Northeast Florida RLC Chairman John Stevens – himself a Republican Committeeman for his precinct – is ineligible to serve in any RPOF position until August 31, 2013. According to Stevens, “In effect, we [will not be able to] serve again until 2016 since the election for the next four year term will be in 2012.” The RPOF Grievance Committee also prohibited Florida RLC Board member Elizabeth Campbell from serving as representative for Escambia County on the State Committee for six months.

Numerous other Republican Party activists in Florida have also been silenced by Boss Greer, including Brevard Republican Chair Jason Steele, Orange County Precinct Committeeman Deon Long and “Ax the Tax” activist Doug Guetzloe. In response to the Grievance Committee sanctions, Orlando RLC organizer Nick Egoroff intends to file a First Amendment lawsuit against Jim Greer and the RPOF.

This is not the first time the Republican Party of Florida has attacked the Republican Liberty Caucus under Jim Greer’s Chairmanship. In summer of 2008, Greer’s staff notified the RLC that it could no longer use the word ‘Republican’ in its title ‘Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida’. The RPOF threatened a lawsuit against the RLC. The RLC has used this title for nearly two decades in the state of Florida and obtained proper permission in writing long before Jim Greer or Charlie Christ came to rule party politics in Florida.

“This ‘Party Purge’ is a direct attack on loyal Republicans who just want to see the Party live up to its avowed beliefs,” noted Dave Nalle. “Healthy debate makes the party stronger and enthusiastic grassroots activists like these should not be punished for commitment to principle or idealism. Forced conformity and mindless subservience to party doctrine are hallmarks of socialism – which have no place in the Republican Party,” Nalle concluded.

The Republican Liberty Caucus is encouraging its members to contact RNC Chairman Michael Steele, RNC Secretary and Florida Committeewoman Sharon Day, and Florida RNC Committeeman Paul Senft, Jr. to ask for their intervention in the matter. The Republican Liberty Caucus (http://www.RLC.org/), founded in 1991, exists to promote individual liberty, limited government, and free enterprise within the Republican Party.

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Contacts for Grassroots Supporters of the RLC:
• Michael Steele, GOP Chairman: Chairman@gop.com
• Sharon Day, FL Committeewoman: Secretary@gop.com, sday@rpof.org
• Paul Senft, Jr., FL Committeeman: senft1hp2u@aol.com

References/Additional Information:
• Complaints Filed Against Egoroff and Guetzloe:
http://www.rlc.org/2009/07/15/floridas-gop-purge-intensifies/
• GOP Removes Deon Long from Position:
http://www.rlc.org/2009/07/10/gop-chair-removes-long/
• St. John’s GOP Complaint Against Will Pitts:
http://www.rlc.org/2009/07/10/stjohns-gop-bullies/
• Other “Party Purge” Details::
http://republicanpartypurge.com/

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